SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN USERS OF A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SERVICE

• US 20140181697A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirigin, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 10,198,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status

Abstract

Computer systems and methods, according to various embodiments, allow users with shared access to a shared file or folder to communicate with one another via online chat. In particular embodiments, the system is configured to facilitate a chat session among all users that have shared access to a particular file or folder in response to a particular user selecting a “chat” button (or other suitable chat initiation element) associated with the shared file or folder. After a chat session is complete, the system may archive the chat session for later viewing and use.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for;

receiving, from a first user of a content management system, a request to initiate communication between all available users of the content management system having shared access to a particular file or folder, the particular file or folder being stored on one or more servers associated with the content management system; and

in response to receiving the request, initiating communication between the all available users via a chat session.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configured for identifying all available users that have shared access to the particular file or folder before the step of initiating communication among the available users.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first user is a user having shared access to the particular file or folder.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the all available users include a plurality of users.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the step of initiating communication between all available users having shared access to the particular file or folder comprises initiating a chat session only between the all available users.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the step of initiating communication between all available users having shared access to the particular file or folder further comprises providing a chat interface to each of the all available users.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

archiving the chat session; and

selectively making the archived chat session available for viewing by users having shared access to the particular file or folder.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the request to initiate communication comprises selection, by the first user, of a display element associated with the particular file or folder.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the content management system is a synchronized content management system.

10. A computer-implemented method for facilitating communication between users of a particular shared file or folder, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving by a processor, from a first user of a content management system, a request to initiate communication between all available users having shared access to a particular file or folder, the particular file or folder being stored on one or more servers associated with the content management system, wherein the first user is a user having shared access to the particular file or folder; and

in response to receiving the request, substantially automatically initiating communication between all available users having shared access to the particular file or folder via a chat session.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured for identifying all available users that have shared access to the particular file or folder before the step of initiating communication among the available users.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the all available users include a plurality of users.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

archiving the chat session; and

selectively making the archived chat session available for viewing by users having shared access to the particular file or folder.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of initiating communication between all available users having shared access to the particular file or folder comprises initiating a chat session only between the all available users.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of initiating communication between all available users having shared access to the particular file or folder comprises providing a chat interface to each of the all available users.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the request to initiate communication comprises selection, by the first user, of a display element associated with the particular file or folder.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

with respect to a particular file stored in a data store, receiving a request to initiate a chat session among all users having shared access to the particular file;

identifying, from information stored in the data store, all users having shared access to the particular file; and

initiating a chat session between all users identified as having shared access to the particular file.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the request to initiate a chat session among all users having shared access to a particular file comprises receiving an indication that a user has selected a selection element associated with the particular file.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a request to initiate a chat session among all users having shared access to a particular folder;

identifying all users having shared access to the particular folder; and

after the step of identifying all users having shared access to the particular folder, facilitating a chat session between all users having shared access to the particular folder.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the step of receiving the request to initiate a chat session among all users having shared access to a particular folder comprises receiving an indication that a user has selected a selection element associated with the particular folder.